Apple Increases Mac Sales by 38% in 2008, iPod & iPhone Also Up

Apple Inc. saw sales of its Macintosh computers grow 38% year-over-year during fiscal 2008, both in terms of dollars and unit sales. In the company's annual 10K SEC filing, Apple revealed that iPod sales were up 10%, with unit sales up 6%, while the company sold some 11.6 million iPhones during the fiscal year.

While Apple announced quarterly figures for the September quarter October 21st, 2008, the company's 10K filing, which summarizes the company's sales, assets, risks, and other information for the full year, was first released today.

Mac Sales

Apple's 38% growth in computer sales far outpaced the rest of the industry, and Apple was able to achieve significant market share gains throughout the year. On October 16th, The Mac Observerreported that Apple was the #3 computer maker with 9.5% market share in the U.S. according to data released by Gartner Research.

All told, Apple sold 9.715 million Macs throughout 2008, up from 7.051 million Macs in 2007. That represents US$14.27 billion in 2008 compared to $10.31 billion in 2007.

It's worth pointing out that Mac sales alone -- of more than $14 billion in 2008 -- were greater than the entirety of Apple's revenue for all of its product lines, including the iPod, of $13.93 billion during fiscal 2005.

iPod Sales

Apple's ability to increase iPod sales in a market considered fairly mature has been looked on favorably by analysts, even as the Mac and iPhone product lines have eclipsed the iPod when it comes to sources of future revenue growth.

iPhone Sales

As for the iPhone, Apple's 10K filing reveal that the company recognized some US$1.8 billion in revenue related to the iPhone during the fiscal year. Apple uses a subscription revenue model that it has said is required by the SEC due to revenue sharing and subsidies received from most of Apple's carrier partners.

In reality, Apple took in more than $4 billion in actual cash flow from the iPhone during the September quarter alone. The rest of that money will be reflected in future quarterly filings as the two-year subscription accounting system plays out.

*In the interest of full disclosure, the author holds a small share in AAPL stock that was not an influence in the creation of this article.

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